The Arizona Cardinals got to the quarterback just 30 times in 2025, one of the worst marks in the NFL.
Now their top pass-rusher could be leaving.
Josh Sweat, the Cardinals’ top free agent from last offseason, has reportedly asked for a trade, according to PHNX’s Johnny Venerable and 247 Sports’ Green Bay Packers writer Easton Butler.
“Cardinals EDGE Josh Sweat has requested a trade this week, per a source,” Butler wrote. “The Packers and Eagles are both reportedly interested in him. Philly is trying to find another star on the DL, after losing Phillips to Carolina.”
This would be a tough pill to swallow for the Cardinals, to say the least.
Josh Sweat Reportedly Requests Trade From Arizona Cardinals?
After signing a four-year, $76.4 million contract last offseason, Sweat has reportedly requested a trade from Arizona.
While Butler had a more concrete report, Venerable says the buzz was there, but could be overblown now.
“I’ll break some news right now,” Venerable said. “When (former Cardinals head coach) Jonathan Gannon got fired, Josh Sweat asked to be traded. Maybe he’s cool with (Cardinals defensive coordinator) Nick Rallis, so it’s fine now. I don’t know.”
Regardless, Sweat did ask to be traded at some point this offseason. Sweat and Gannon reportedly had a strong bond, so these reports do make sense.
Gannon, now the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, could try to get Sweat back. The Philadelphia Eagles, where Sweat spent the first seven years of his career, could make a move as well.
The Eagles selected Sweat in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
In seven years with Philadelphia, Sweat had 43 sacks, a Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl.
In that Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Sweat had 2.5 sacks, helping secure a contract with the Cardinals that offseason.
During the 2025 season, his first with Arizona, Sweat accumulated 12 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. Those two stats led the team.
In fact, the next highest total was an age-39 Calais Campbell with 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss.
Who Would the Cardinals Have to Replace Sweat?
With Campbell still a free agent, the Cardinals do not currently have much depth on the defensive line.
No other player had more than two sacks in 2025.
Currently, Baron Browning, Zaven Collins and Jordan Burch would have roles opposite Sweat. However, those three names combined for 4.5 sacks.
The Cardinals would be unwise to trade Sweat for this very reason.
While Arizona has the potential to take a pass-rusher in the first round of this year’s draft, it would not be beneficial to rely on a rookie to lead the team in sacks.
Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese are candidates for the No. 3 overall pick.
While all three of these players are very talented, it’s unlikely that any one of them will replicate Sweat’s production in their rookie season.
Perhaps this is all just buzz, and Sweat and Rallis smoothed things out.
Sweat has a cap number of just $16.4 million in 2026, a modest number for a top pass rusher.
With three years left on his deal and entering his age-29 season, it would be smart for Arizona not to trade him, even if they get an offer they can’t refuse.
Trade Buzz Forming Around Cardinals’ Top Pass Rusher